title: Altered expression of nerve growth factor and its receptors in the kidneys of diabetic rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 1 diabetes (DB) is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by loss of insulin-producing pancreatic ß-cells, and metabolic and functional deficits in a number of cells, including kidney cells. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a signaling molecule that is up-regulated in cells affected by diabetes-linked disorders. However, whether DB alters the expression of NGF in the kidney is not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  DB was induced in adult male rats with a single injection of streptozotocin (STZ), and NGF protein levels were analyzed in a time-course study in serum and kidney. The expression of NGF receptors in the kidneys of healthy and DB rats was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. NGF levels as well as apoptotic features in the kidneys of healthy rats injected with purified NGF were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study revealed that DB elevates NGF levels in serum and NGF expression in the kidney and that subcutaneous administration of NGF causes a marked uptake of NGF in kidney cells. The elevated presence of NGF in kidney cells is not associated with proapoptotic factor expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data suggest that NGF presence in the kidney might play a survival, and most probably protective, role in kidney cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, National Research Council, Rome, Italy. aloe@inmm.cnr.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Manni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D007267:Injections; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000009:adverse effects; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D013311:Streptozocin; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor